Compare towns
Brookline vs Hampton vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Hampton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.